Thoughts on this house please!

[Acapulco12]

Hi all, I’ll be going for a second viewing of this house soon and am considering perhaps putting in an offer, recognising it needs quite a bit of work: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/156480986.

What sort of offer do you think would be reasonable? I was thinking £530k (10% under the current £600k asking price). A house on the same road in a similar condition was sold in Sept 2023 for £480k.

In terms of updating the property, how would you approach that?

I was considering extending the dining room outwards so it’s at the same level as the kitchen and then knocking through the kitchen/dining room dividing wall to create a kitchen/diner and also adding in a utility room., and putting in bifold doors leading out onto the garden.

After that, I’d like to update the upstairs - renovate the bathroom and update the bedrooms (new carpets etc and decoration). I’m also thinking of putting in a downstairs loo and turning the porch into an outdoor one, rather than indoor.

And eventually perhaps doing a loft extension, although I wouldn’t need that for at least the next 5 years, as I’m buying on my own and don’t have kids, although would like kids at some point.

EDIT: the house is the one on the left hand side, without the driveway, in the photo.

I don't think South Norwood is anywhere near as bad as some people have made out. I bought here last autumn (to the east of South Norwood Hill, near the Lake), and had a few doubts, but it generally feels like a safe, quiet area with a lot of families. The streets in this particular part are nice, as are some of the roads near the Country Park. And it is so much cheaper. The High Street and Portland Road are quite gritty and urban, and have the associated issues, but to the person who said it's worse than central Croydon that is simply not true (at least, not any more). I actually think SN compares quite well to some other parts of South London. As to whether it is up and coming, I think it will gentrify more - but slowly. There are already some nice coffee places, a deli and a craft beer bar - and the great Stanley Arts Centre. Everywhere else around here has come up (including Penge, of course), so it will happen eventually. The connections into town are fantastic - and it trumps the much more expensive neighbouring areas such as Crystal Palace in that respect. If you live near the lake (which is lovely, btw), you are also not far from CP triangle (just about walkable, or a short hop on the bus).

So glad to have read your post after so many negative comments - we are in the process of buying a house near the lakes and thought the area seemed really nice around that part. Pretty streets, 25 mins walk to CP triangle (where we are now) takes you past Auckland Rd and some lovely big houses... or as you say, very quick ride on the bus.

NJ station is going to be great for work, whereas at present I am usually having to catch bus and train from CP.

SN itself seems a little nasty around Portland Road, but I will have no reason to ever go there anyway (unless it improves of course). Around the station you have Four Boroughs for coffee, Brown & Green cafe, craft beer shop, Little Mouse cheese shop, couple fairly decent pubs. Perhaps a few suspect individuals around, but no different to other parts of London - hopefully this will get better as more people are priced out of CP/Upper Norwood.

Buying a house in London is always going to be full of compromises, you just have to be realistic about what your budget will get you. If you want great areas, stick to leasehold flats in nicer areas but then you are stuck with service charges, smaller property and footsteps above you.